How young is to young?

[TIRAGION]

At what age would you feel comfortable in starting your kids in MA?
Also would you feel more comfortable starting your child in grappling or striking art? And of course why?

Thanks.

[Jason T Gatts]

My oldest child is 3 and she has already begun her training with me, but I would not feel comfortable enrolling her in a martial arts school until she is probably at least 5. Until that time I doubt that she will have the attention span or the necessary understanding of respect and courtesy that will be expected of her in a traditional school. I began my training when I was 6 (in a traditional Shotokan Dojo) and I feel that this was a good age for me. As for the rest of your question I always recomend that new students begin with a striking art. It makes sense (to me) to learn to fight from an outside range and then learn what to do if someone manages to get inside. I would especially recommend this for young children because most grappling arts practice joint manipulation and pressure point techniques that a developing adolescent body may not be ready for. I hope that you find this helpful.

[Eliz]

8 is a good age to start unless it is a program specifically geared toward younger people (ex. "kids Kick").

My own kids were 5 and 6 but they weren't with the rest of the class. I would bring them in early and let them have some fun doing different summersaults, kicks, punches, basic etiquette, etc. Since there was no kids program at that particular school, I more or less made one up for them.

I really don't think kids under 8 should be in structured MA's programs. The school I teach in now does allow kids as young as 5. Luckily, there are no 5 year olds that I know of, only a few 6 year olds, and loads of 7 and up practitioners. The difference between the 7 year olds and 8 year olds is like night and day.

Parents rightfully want to start their children when they are "young." Remember, 8 years old is YOUNG considering most MA's have no age maximums. You can participate well into your senior years.

Just my opinion.

[twrekx]

I find around 5 is good but it is also based on the child, some are mature enough to handle being in a MA class and some can not. I have never taught a child only class as I find the kids learn the proper etiquette faster in a class mixed with adults, plus I have found most of the adults have a blast holding pads and even sparring with the little ones. An added bonus to this way is if the parents are in the class they help to control the child by just being there or giving them " the look"

As for my own son I have already began his training at 1 1/2 years old. I have him doing simple front kick and simple punch with kia's on balloons and balls.

[De_Franza]

It does depend on the individual child, though I'm inclined to say older is better, 8 or 9, maybe even 10. I've seen kids in our school who really make a noticable change and maturation when hitting the age of about 10 or 11, and I'm inclined to be curmudgenly and old school and say that the silly stuff very little kids do is almost totally a waste of time for everyone involved. But ask me again after I have a kid.

Also I'd say grappling may not be a good idea as the young child is still growing and strong joint manipulations may damage the growth plates of the bones, which can be a serious problem. In a striking art they can train without partners until they have some skills and start doing one step drills or other partner forms. In a grappling art, they pretty much must start working with a partner immediately (to my understanding) and my concern is that they would not have the control and skill to not be injurious to each other. Then again, little kids are pretty tough and not strong and massive enough to do serious harm.

Take my advice in perspective, I'm a karate man, and the first schools I trained in didn't accept anyone younger than college age.

[Gene Williams]

My standing rule was no one under 12 years old. I made a few exceptions (very few) and took one as young as 8, but he had exceptional self-discipline for one so young. I teach a traditional art in a traditional manner. I don't have time to baby sit, and I will not tailor my dojo to children's needs. I did not allow my own children to train until they were 12. If they can come to class, stay focused for 2 hours, and follow instructions and learn some manners, they last. If not, I tell their parents to take them down to the ATA school where they have "Little Ninjas" programs and drink machines in the dojo.

[Andrew Green]

A drink machine in the dojo is a good idea, very convienient for everyone (always having a powerade or bottle water available is nice) plus it brings in some money for the school, not a lot but every bit helps.

Anyways, back to the question:

It all depends on what you plan on teaching them. Kids will start wrestling naturally at a very young age, in all animals. Guiding them in that can begin very young, preferably one on one. And yes, it is "play", and that is how they learn. If you mean a organized traditional class where the idea of "play" is frowned upon with lots of repetition and formality, then not as young... In fact, I think I hope to always be too young to prefer that

[Gene Williams]

A drink machine in the dojo is a good idea, very convienient for everyone (always having a powerade or bottle water available is nice) plus it brings in some money for the school, not a lot but every bit helps.

Anyways, back to the question:

It all depends on what you plan on teaching them. Kids will start wrestling naturally at a very young age, in all animals. Guiding them in that can begin very young, preferably one on one. And yes, it is "play", and that is how they learn. If you mean a organized traditional class where the idea of "play" is frowned upon with lots of repetition and formality, then not as young... In fact, I think I hope to always be too young to prefer that

You will always be too young to prefer that Andrew. That is why you put little flipping penguins in your avatar.

[Eliz]

...plus I have found most of the adults have a blast holding pads and even sparring with the little ones. An added bonus to this way is if the parents are in the class they help to control the child by just being there or giving them " the look"

I respect your opinion, but I do not share it. I teach kids. When I train, there better be NO kids in that class under the age of 16. That is my time and I don't want to deal with little kids. I am a mother, an instructor and a wife - I think I've earned a little time to just be me. I imagine most of the adults feel that way as the class is always packed.

We have seperate classes for the kids. It's the same traditional instruction and the same curriculum as the adults follow. The difference is the adults learn faster and they go at a much harder pace. They [the adults] are more interested in the deeper meaning and history of what it is we spend so much time practicing. Kids just draw a blank on a lot of that.

Answer? Seperate classes.

As for Gene's comment on little tyke classes. Agreed. Most of the ones I've seen aren't geared to imitate traditional instruction. It's just a fun way for the tykes to get out on the mats and have some fun. I think it's kind of like a MA's gymboree/tumbling kind of thing. So long as instructors aren't handing out camo belts (or any belts for that matter), I think it's fine. When they actually start promoting the little diaper clads, thats where I start my hissy fits.

[yukwon]

At my school we have age specific programs for 4 - 6 yr. olds. Our regular program starts at 7, this curriculum is focused on striking but we do teach joint locks and throws.

[wingchundo.girl]

Too young is definitely three years old. I started a class for just 3-5 years old. Some three year olds were awesome. These were the children who had even temperment and were fairly calm, so they were a little easier to handle.

But most of the three year olds were so fascinated with every thing and every one in the building that they were never really "there." They would gravitate to anything that caught their eye. Especially a mirror. And if you can't get them to look you in the eye, their too young.

Also there's the language barrier. You need to learn a whole new way of explaining things, at their level. I realized after a while that some of them didn't know what I meant by "look down at your knees." What are knees?

Another realization came, when I realized that 3-5 yr olds take a lot more time to process information. I patiently wait for them to actually "hear" or repeat a phrase several times in a row before they would react to the information.

Now I take only 4-6 years old in this class. Art of distraction, and the art of excitement and adventure can keep this group together, which means it can be exhausting for you. But they are like sponges, I no longer underestimate them.

I look at this class as a way to help children with balance, hand eye coordination, getting them to use the right side as good as the left, learning to listen to directions, cooperation, and focus.

Besides the various coordination exerices and games, they learn to front kick, side and back kick. They are learning to scissors kick. They can learn mount and a simple mount escape. They can learn to punch and do all of our blocking drills. They can memorize creeds, and concepts.

By the time they become a green stripe (stripe system on their white belt), they are about a 1-2 years older and ready to enter the regular class.

We also help kids who are starved for approval and acceptance even at this early stage. Martial arts help build self esteem, discipline, and confidence and if you can introduce it this early, it's great.

It's a lot of work, definitely need a high student/teacher ratio of five to one. I figure that in any one class could have 10-12 with two instructors in the room. But I have to say, there is definitely an increase in our area for classes for this age group. I started with just two students and slowly built it up until I was ready to take on more. Word of mouth has brought in 7 more this past two months.

Liz Ambrose

[Andrew Green]

You will always be too young to prefer that Andrew. That is why you put little flipping penguins in your avatar.

Thank you, and hopefully I always will

But it seems appropriate on a internet martial arts forum doesn't it?

Not quite Tux, but close enough for me, and I can turn it into a ninja. (Previous ninja penguins where Tux, but minus the flip)

But you are right, it is time to grow up a little. So how's this?

[Gene Williams]

Reminds me of my college physics professor.

[Shinzon]

It all depends on the situation, I think starting a child out at an early age is a good thing. Now that doesn't mean that it has to be physical with strikes and grappling, but in teaching them discipline and honor. If you can teach a child great discipline at a young age, it will most likely prove to be a valuable asset for them when they start doing some real physical training. By teaching them first to use their heads and feelings before actually teaching them how to use a punch or a kick!

[wab25]

7 is the official age for our school, to start the kids class. A few exceptions have been made, but very few. The kids do very similar stuff to what the adults do. However, the kids focus more on falling and throws. They do not learn joint manipulations, except under very controlled circumstances.

They do get belts, but the belts are basically an expansion of the adult belt rankings. Adult ranks go white, blue, green, brown (3 degrees), black. Kids go white, advanced white, yellow, advanced yellow, orange, advanced orange, purple, advanced purple. At advanced purple, when the student is big enough and mature enough, he will be invited to join the adult class, where the adult instructor will eventually promote him to green, when he is ready for it in the adult class. So basically, the kids get the first two ranks, but they are subdivided a lot.

I want my child to start with a grappling MA around 7. However, I will inspect the school and make sure joint locks and pressure points are not used in regular classes. The reason I want him in a grappling art is because I want him to learn to fall. It sounds harsh, but kids fall a lot while growing up. Hopefully, if he learns to fall early enough, he will have fewer injuries. I broke my arm in jr high do to falling improperly. I had to have it pinned, unpinned, and go through 8-9 months of therapy to recover the use of my right arm, which still is not 100%. Had I learned to fall correctly at a young age, I would not have had this problem. If you can learn to take a bunch of judo throws, the other falls you take should not cause you much problem at all.

[AndrewSimonsen]

My kid is going to start wrestling at probably four or five. In youth wrestling programs I have seen kids as young as three. It may not seem like they are learning much but if you start wrestling that early you will be beast when you are older. Other benefits of wrestling is the awesome conditioning, and the fact that it has no belt ranks. Yes I do consider that to be a plus. Wrestling is also something that is almost always cheap, some schools even teach it for free.

[jjaje]

Wrestling at 3, I wouldn't have thought it possible. There is plenty of time to turn your future children into a "beast", that you don't have to start before they are even in preschool.

It's actually pretty rare that the sport a kid starts when they are 5 is the same sport they are in when they are 10 (just look at how the numbers of soccor players goes down as age goes up).

Anyways, to each his own.

[AndrewSimonsen]

I started young, I have a cousin who was the national champion for 72 pounds, really it is no different than chess when you are looking at the numbers for the age groups. Wrestling and chess both have fairly low numbers that peak at about the high school point. Also at that age it is less so about competing and more about just building a foundation that can be used when you are older. Helping to give you proper balance and coordination along with basic skill sets like building sprawling as a reflex. Just look at wrestling programs in Iowa or Penn, the two states that dominate at wrestling. They start em young.

[AndrewSimonsen]

On the other hand though I wouldn't feel comfortable starting a kid that age off with a striking art.

[Aikido_Girl918]

as a teen in the martial arts, and an assistant teacher, i have seen many small children come and go and a few that, in my opinion have made it further than they should have. and i believe that the absolute youngest age you should start a child in martial arts is 7. i have seen a range of ages come and go, and i would say start no younger than 7 no older than 11 for kids classes